Are 250 timing sets interchangable with 221??

[Anonymous]

I'm getting some conflicting advice and need to know if anyone has actually done this and can confirm it works.
Looking through the parts catalogues I see the standard replacement Timing chains and Timing Sets have different part numbers for the 221 and 250 pre Xflows, but Crow cams reckons the Rollmaster CS6-250 kit will work on all pre-crossflows. Is this correct, does the 221 share the same cam to crank location?. Also the Precision International parts catalogue lists a 50 link and a 52 link timing chain for the 221, whats the go with that!. I've counted the links in my old chain and have the 52 link version but why would there be 2 versions.

 

[xctasy]

Easy. Ones the 221 V8 used on the first Compact Fairlanes 1962 to 1964. The other is the 1968-1971 Aussie and 1968 to 1995 Argentine 221 I6.

My last 3.6 litre 221 I6 was in 1997. I think it used the later 250 cam to crank spacing, but Ford went to a special triple tooth silent chain after 1972, and its used every X-flow from 76 to 93. It should fit on the 221 if you swap the timing gears over.

 

[addo]

The four-main 200s and 144-170s, also used the 50-link Rollmaster chain.

Out of curiosity, what year 221 is it?

 

[Anonymous]

It's a 69 model.
I've just pulled a timing set from a 250 and they look to be the same length chain and same diameter gears but the 250 chain and gears are wider. Maybe this would cause a clearance problem on the 221 timing cover?
My girlfriend reckons its not the length that matters but the girth, but shes not much of a mechanic . When I get the block back from the machinist I'll check the old 250 timing set fits before I order a rollmaster.